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UCM, Chamber to Present MLK Community Service Awards

Contact: Mike Greife
WARRENSBURG, MO (Jan. 6, 2009) – Campus and community leaders and organizations will be recognized for their contributions to the community during UCM ’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.

Public Invited to Attend

UCM will join the Greater Warrensburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center in presenting the 2009 MLK Community Service Awards at the chamber’s monthly business luncheon at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the White Rose Pavilion.

Featured speaker for the luncheon will be Gersham Nelson, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UCM. Nelson will speak on “Diversity: How to Bring it Out in Your Community.”

Service Award

Steve Ciafullo and the UCM Valuing Differences program will receive the 2009 Robbie Robinson Service Award. For nearly two decades, Ciafullo has taught the class he originated at UCM. Students learn valuable lessons about multiculturalism, diversity, race relations, and social justice by interacting with people, diverse cultures, and experiences different than their own.

Leadership Award

The Leadership Award will be presented jointly to the City of Warrensburg, Warrensburg Main Street, Inc., and the Johnson County Economic Development Corporation. Working as a coalition, the three groups together successfully obtained a Community Development Block Grant for Phase III of the Downtown Streetscape program, which will renovate West Pine Street in downtown Warrensburg to coincide with Phases I and II along North Holden Street through downtown.

The groups also worked together to earn the DREAM Community designation for Warrensburg from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, which will bring a variety of economic development resources to the community during the next three years.

Humanitarian Award

Robert L. Marshall, longtime educator and Warrensburg civic leader, will receive the Humanitarian Award. During his tenure at UCM, Marshall guided the development of the university’s internationally recognized safety and industrial hygiene programs, retiring from UCM as dean emeritus of the School of Public Safety.

Marshall also has served the community of Warrensburg through a variety of civic interests. He is a member and past president of the Warrensburg Rotary Club, currently serving as co-chair of the local club’s campaign to support the worldwide effort by Rotary International to eradicate polio around the globe. He also served as president of the board of directors of the Greater Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, and was a charter member and co-founder of the chamber’s Ambassadors Club, welcoming many new residents and businesses to the community.

He also is a charter member and past president of the board of directors of the Johnson County Adult Literacy Program, serving on the board for more than two decades. He also has been an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Warrensburg, serving in leadership positions on the administrative board.

Make Plans to Attend Now

Those planning to attend the Jan. 14 luncheon are asked to RSVP to the chamber office at 100 S. Holden or by phone at 660-747-3168 by Jan. 12. Cost for the luncheon is $13 for chamber members and guests or $20 for non-members.